Phoenix leaders court Japanese semiconductor suppliers

Why it matters: Some of Arizona's biggest semiconductor manufacturers rely on Japanese suppliers.

• Bringing those companies to metro Phoenix would build up the local supply chain and add high-wage jobs, GPEC vice president of business development Thomas Maynard told Axios Phoenix.

The intrigue: Kenko Sone, consul general of Japan in Los Angeles, told Axios Phoenix it's easy to sell Japanese companies on the business benefits of operating in the Valley because of Intel and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

Yes, but: It's harder to make the case that Phoenix is a good cultural fit, he said.

• Phoenix doesn't have an established Japanese neighborhood or business district like LA does.

Zoom in: That was why this business mission corresponded with Arizona Matsuri, Phoenix's Festival of Japan this weekend

• "I came last year and I was really amazed that so many people had so much interest in Japanese culture," Sone said.

• He said he's working with Valley leaders to bring more authentic restaurants and Japanese language programs to make Phoenix more appealing to international transplants.

What we're watching: The Arizona Commerce Authority announced in December it plans to open a trade office in Japan early this year.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to add the name of GPEC's SVP of business development, Thomas Maynard.